When Akshay Venkatesh was 13 years old and had completed his high school studies, he told the ABC he was aiming to "maybe become a mathematician". Well, that came true — and he's now achieved his subject's highest honour.

When Akshay Venkatesh was 13 years old and had completed his high school studies, he told the ABC he was aiming to "maybe become a mathematician". Well, that came true — and he's now achieved his subject's highest honour.

In a move to encourage more students to take maths and science classes, the Federal Government will today announce a plan to ensure teachers in those subjects have studied maths and science at a university level.

Australia's infrastructure plans, new space agency and defence projects could all be in jeopardy unless a severe shortage in the number of homegrown engineers is reversed, the industry peak body warns.